Latest Events in Kyoto(February Updated)

Plants light up Kyoto's night sky and explore the hidden lives of plants. Kyoto Botanical Gardens is Japan's oldest public plant sanctuary with a century-old history. State-of-the-art lighting, sound and projections reveal nature's secrets. Step into the greenhouses, a lush sanctuary where melodies float through the air and vibrant plants exude energy. Four unique installations invite you to connect with plants in ways you never imagined. Attune your senses to the subtle rhythms and whispers of plant life and experience their invisible communication. It's an invitation to activate your senses and discover the universal sounds of nature like never before. Get ready to see, hear and explore the diversity of plants on display.

Legend has it that the Kannon (Avalokitesvara) of Kiyomizu-dera Temple transforms into a blue dragon, and drinks water from the waterfall within the temple grounds at night. Therefore, the Yaksha (demon) is also worshipped there. This event is held specifically because of this legend, and also to pray for the well-being of those who come to worship. This dancing blue dragon parades from Okuno to the cobblestone streets surrounding Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The blue dragon is considered one of the four sacred guardians of Kyoto. Besides the giant blue dragon, there are men dressed in traditional samurai attire, and the streets are filled with music and spectacular dances. It's truly amazing! Lunar New Year is on March 15th and April 3rd. Autumn is on October 15th, starting at 2:00 PM (2 PM).

This exhibition showcases the elegant dolls of Maruhei Oki, a doll maker founded in Kyoto during the Meiwa Era in the Edo period, displayed alongside paintings depicting Gosekku (“the five seasonal festivals”) and other seasonal events. Maruhei has a long doll-making tradition rich in exquisite craftsmanship, from costumes through to furnishings, based on the customs of the Imperial Court. Focusing on Hina dolls, which have long been loved by the Imperial household and other important families, and comprising Gosho dolls, Isho dolls, Ichimatsu dolls, and other dolls unique to Maruhei displayed alongside the works of modern painters from the Collection, this exhibition will reflect on the enduring beauty of tradition in Kyoto.

This is a special exhibition focusing on avant-garde explorations and innovations in Japanese painting in the Kyoto region after World War II (approximately 1948–1970). The exhibition is held at the Kyocera Museum of Art, Kyoto (Higashiyama Cube) from February 7th to May 6th, 2026. It showcases works by over 30 artists, including pioneering painters and groups who challenged traditional concepts.

This exhibition will showcase works by 20 Japanese artists, focusing on artistic expression from the 1990s to the present, a period marked by increasing globalization and opportunities for Japanese artists to exhibit abroad. Using key concepts such as "identity," "body," "history," and "globalized society," the exhibition will explore the artists' reflections and practices on the relationship between the world and humanity, attempting to portray the viewer's experience of the works as a narrative, like a nautical chart recording the currents and swells of a voyage, or an encounter with an uncharted island. The title of this exhibition, "Sekai no Kotowari" (World's Words), evokes the idea of ​​renewing one's own thinking while refusing to easily interpret or assign meaning to the unknown, much like the use of katakana to write foreign words and new concepts. There are countless answers to the question, "Where are we now?/Where Do We Stand?" It could be said that we are constantly tossing and turning, like a small boat floating on the sea. Nevertheless, we hope that this exhibition will provide an opportunity for viewers to discover their own world's words, as they seek a shared foundation and continue living.

Taku Mitsuhashi (born in Kyoto in 1987) is a contemporary artist active in the field of Nihonga painting. He is also a full-time lecturer in the Faculty of Fine Arts at Kyoto City University of Arts and participates in the artist collective "Keichōen". The exhibition includes his work "Image Work (Walk and Pause), 2021," which explores the dialogue between tradition and contemporary art through visual language.

Hirano Shrine, with a history of over 1200 years, has been known as the Cherry Tree Shrine since ancient times. Currently, the shrine grounds boast 400 trees of 60 different varieties. Starting with Sakigakezakura, other varieties include Kocho, Ichō, Nezame, Gyoikō, and Kinugasa, cultivated specifically at Hirano Shrine. With such a diverse array of species, one of the shrine's special features is that you can enjoy the blossoms for an extended period. Starting annually on April 10th, a cherry blossom festival features a religious procession showcasing elaborately designed period costumes.

This exhibition focuses on the materiality evoked in Hendrickson's work, exploring a method of textile creation in which materials, structure, and the act of weaving or sewing themselves are symbolic, rather than concrete forms or patterns. The materiality of fabric can be explored in two ways: first, the bodily imagery evoked by the fabric as clothing; and second, the bodily subjectivity during the fabric production process. Kimonos are often praised for their patterns, while Junko Murayama's work evokes scenes of wearing fur through its wearability. May Engelgill's work uses linen previously used to make kimonos, while Chiyoko Tanaka's "Kasa" series creates new contexts through cutting and reassembly. Meanwhile, Nobuko Hiroi reveals knots usually hidden in the weaving process, as traces of cutting and knotting, suggesting the value of time and labor, or the symbolism of re-knotting. Ali Bayuazi extends these relationships to the communal level, questioning how the processes of spinning, dyeing, and reweaving restructure communities.

Jōnan-gū Shrine is a Heian period shrine built in 794 AD, when the imperial court moved from Nara to Kyoto. It is famous for the Heian period poetry festival known as "Kyokusui no Uta" (Songs of the Vast Water), held twice a year in spring and autumn in its beautiful gardens. In February and March each year, the shrine also hosts camellia and weeping plum blossom festivals.

"Digital Aura" is an exhibition presented by Kyoto-based printing company San-M Color in collaboration with contemporary artists. Leveraging years of experience supporting artists in their creative process, producing photography collections, and reproducing cultural assets, the company will present a series of works using printing as a medium of expression. During the creative process, artists engage in dialogue with San-M Color's printing director, who will use a UV inkjet printer to complete the work while considering materials and printing techniques. Curated by artist Takakura Kazuki, who has collaborated with San-M Color on numerous occasions, the exhibition will explore the integration of technology and thought from an artist's perspective. The exhibition will be held at Hotel Anteroom Kyoto as a side event of "ARTISTS' FAIR KYOTO 2026," and all exhibited works are available for purchase.